Analyse af Larry Fondations 'The American Dream'

The American DreamThe American Dream is a national ideal in America. The idea that all men are equal comes from ’The Declaration of Independence’. It says that no matter where you come from, geographically or socially, you can become anything you want if you work for it. The national ideal in America includes believing that freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, if you work hard. But the illusion and idea of that all men are equal and anyone can become something are shattered in the story. The American Dream, the truth about it, is the main theme in the short story ”The American Dream” written by Larry Fondation in 1991. Javier is the owner of the diner in the short story. He runs the diner by himself. He is a short man with black hair, a mustache and a youthful beard. He is dressed like a chef is supposed to - white pants and shirt and an apron. Javier has a thick accent and black hair which indicate that he is an immigrant, just like his name does. The incident where Javier gets arrested proves that he is an illegal immigrant. ”They grabbed Javier quickly and without a word, forcing his hands behind his back. He, too, said nothing. He did not resist, and they shoved him out the door and into their waiting car. /…/ They seemed not to have noticed Javier’s exit.” Javier is not surprised that he gets arrested and the customers don’t even notice. There are so many illegal immigrants in America that people know that by tomorrow there will be a “new Javier” to do the job. The American citizen doesn’t care because it doesn’t hurt him. This is one of the themes in the short story – the problem with illegal immigrants and that nobody notice or care about it. Javier might have worked hard and obtained the American Dream, but it has been taken away from him, the only reason being that he is an illegal immigrant. The main character is also the narrator in the short story. He doesn’t talk much about himself, not even his name. All that is known is that he is alone and he looks like Javier which means he too is an immigrant, maybe an illegal immigrant. “I asked what they had had. They seemed surprised that I didn’t remember.” To the customers, Javier and the main character looks the same. Again, for the American citizen, it doesn’t matter if it’s Javier or another illegal immigrant, making him his cheap food. After Javier’s exit, the main character hesitates whether to get up and make hi food or not to. He decides to do it and somehow he starts to serve other customers too. Why he chooses to continuing serving the customers is because he wants to take over the place. This is the main characters chance to get a job and make a life for himself. The fact that he thinks about money and chose food according to how much it costs points towards that he is poor. Maybe he doesn’t have a job and that’s why he chose to take over the place. The situation is extreme, but it shows what the idea of the American dream is all about. Anyone can come from nothing, and become something.The place he takes over is an old-fashion, cosy and homey place. It’s clean; more clean than most family-run diners, and have a lot of customers. The name of the diner is “Clara’s”, which is an American name. Why Javier named the diner Clara’s is probably do the sad fact that more people choose to visit a diner called Clara’s than Javier’s. People would rather go into an American diner than a diner owned by an immigrant. The food is cheap, which makes people want to eat there. The reason why the food is so cheap is because Javier doesn’t have a work permit and is moonlighting.The name and look of the diner, creates an illusion of the typical American diner, but the illusion cracks when you get in and notice that it’s an illegal immigrant named Javier, running the place. The illusion of the diner cracks and so does the American dream. If you are an immigrant, illegal or legal, you will not have the same chances as an American citizen.